Timely career shift at 40 proves there’s success to be had from a life of chimes

He embarked on a new career as a clockmaker when he reached the milestone and can now boast clients including the Queen.

His Emley, Huddersfield-based company, Sinclair Harding, employs 15 people, exports across the world and has acquired a watch chain firm and brought its precious metal plating in-house.

Mr Bray said: “It was 1995 and the clockmaking industry was pretty much dead at the time in the UK. I didn’t know anyone in the clock business and people thought I was mad.

“The first few years were really difficult. I had to start an apprenticeship again and I was just about to turn 40.”

Established in 1966, Sinclair Harding was originally based in Cheltenham but moved to Mr Bray’s native Yorkshire shortly after he bought the firm, which now has an annual turnover of about £750,000.

Mr Bray had spent 23 years manufacturing small gears and gearboxes for the aerospace and defence industries before his change of career.

He said: “We used to work from small premises that we rented until two years ago.

“Then we bought our own premises and that has enabled us to expand.”

The company makes bespoke mechanical clocks.